Display form



Aug- 31, 1937- A. L.. DILLER l 2,091;387

DI SPLAY FORM 'Filed Maron 21, 1935 45 the solution.

Patented Aug. 31, 1937 UNITED STATES DISPLAY FORM Alvin L. Diller, Belmont, Mass., assignor to Hood Rubber Company, Inc., Watertown, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Application March 21, 1935, Serial No. 12,338

3 claims..

This invention relates to display forms, such as are used to display articles of wearing apparel, and to methods of making the same.

The principal objects of the invention are to 5 provide a light weight, substantially rigid, but

adjustable, article at low cost, and to provide a novel method of procedure for the production of such a form.

Other objects will appear from the following l description and the accompanying drawing.

Of the drawing:4

Fig. 1 is an illustration of one step of the method of forming the article showing the apparatus in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the second step in the production of the article.

Fig. 3 is a view showing a third step of the method, the article being shown as partially removed from the form.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3, and showing the form and the article in section.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the article mounted upon a second form, for performing a later step in the method.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, showing the iinished article in its preferred form.

Referring to the drawing, in which a shoe display form is taken as a convenient article'to illustrate the method, such a display form being the preferred article of the invention, the numeral I Il designates a flat form, preferably of substantially rigid material, having the general outline of a shoe, and so dimensioned as to provide a surface substantially equal in area and girth to the desired article, but attenedin one dimension. An extension, or tab II, is provided for convenience in manipulating the form. 'Y

In the practice of the method of the invention 40 the form I0 is i'lrst dipped in a tank I2 containing al solution I3, adapted to cause coagulation of an aqueous or other dispersion of a rubber composition. A coating of the coagulant remains upon the form when the form is withdrawn from The form is then immersed in a natural or artificial dispersion I4 of a rubber composition contained in a vessel I5. The rubber dispersion is preferably of such a nature as to deposit upon the form a film I6 of rubber composition, containing sulfur and accelerators of vulcanization, so that the film may be converted to substantially inextensible hard rubber or semi-hard rubber.

After the deposit of the coating I6, the form I0 is removed and placed upon a support I1,

(c1. iz-izs) where it is permitted to dry. If it is desired to reinforce the article, a layer of suitable fabric I8, having a coating of unvulcanized rubber I9 on at least one face thereof, may be applied to the rubber layer I6. A

Whether or not fabric reinforcements have been applied thereto, certain parts of the article may be severed therefrom, to lighten thearticle and impart flexibility and adjustability thereto, -in certain directions, and also to facilitate removal of the article from the form on whichit has' been manufactured.v For instance, where the article is a form for displaying a shoe, a V-shaped opening 20 may be formed at the front of the form, to provide adjustability at the top of the form, and the material may be parted, as by use of a knife 2| along the sole, and down the back if desired, to facilitate removal from the form, and to provide adjustability across the ball of theform.

'I'he article may then be stripped from the form and reversed so that any reinforcements of fabric will be on the inside of the article. 'Ihe article is then placed on a full-shaped last or form 22 having the final contour desired in the article, and the rubber composition is converted to hard or semi-hard rubber, by vulcanization in any well known manner, preferably by subjecting it to heat under pressure of surrounding steam or air. 30

The finished article is then removed from the last. Where it is desired to provide a surface n design on the article, the form II! may be suitably engraved to form the rubber layer I6.

Where the article is a shoe display form, the separation of the sides, caused by placing'the article over the last, provides an opening corresponding in area and location to the sole of the shoe to be displayed, and this opening, together with the elasticity of the sides ofthe article, provides for automatic adjustment to shoes of different widths. The V-shaped opening 20 permits automatic adjustment of the display form to shoes varying in circumference `at the top, and the elasticity of the walls, holds the display form to the shoe at the top thereof.

I claim:

1. A display form'for a shoe, said form .comprising a hollow shell having form-retaining stiiness and comprising flexible and resilient rubber 50 having substantially the form of the interior of the shoe and providedwith an.opening correy sponding substantially in size and location to the 1 sole of the shoe, whereby the'walls of the form may be flexed by virtue of theA resilience of the 55 2 aceras? rubber to conform to the shape of shoes of different wiclths, said shell having a fabric backing.

2. A display form for a shoe, said form comprising a hollow shell having form-retaining stiffness and comprising flexible and resilient rubber having substantially the form of the interior of the shoe and formed with an opening n in its top corresponding to the leg opening of the shoe, the Walls adjacent saicl opening being notched to permit local contraction and expansion of the form by Virtue of the resilience of the rubber to accomodate shoes of Varying dimensions. 

